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Libyan rebels free more than 10,000 prisoners

A rebel military spokesperson on Sunday said that more than 10,000 prisoners were held by the regime of Kadhafi have been released since the rebels captured Tripoli, but nearly 50,000 are still missing.

Ahmed Omar Bani at a press conference stated that the number of people arrested over the past few months is estimated at between 57,000 and 60,000.

He also expressed his deep concern over their fate and said that many people in Tripoli are now discovering mass graves around former detention centres and the prison in Abu Slim.

Abu Slim, a generally pro-Kadhafi neighbourhood, has seen fierce fighting between rebels and Kadhafi loyalists.

When asked whether the missing rebels were killed, he said that it would be catastrophic if it turns out they were killed.

We now have the individuals who knows what has happened with the prisoners in Tripoli and these individuals are currently being sought by our liberation forces.

Bani warned that they have invited anyone who has information on prisoners to come forward or they will be considered considered complicit in these crimes.

It is high time for those who claims to have been too frightened to speak to come forward and testify about the crimes which were being committed.

The battle for Tripoli is almost over and the rebels are mess up to get the capital back on its feet, but sporadic gunfire could still be heard overnight in the city.